How many times have you shot an arrow and missed the target or had a pass-through on the target and found the arrow  laying on the ground with a fletching missing?  This can be a very frustrating experience as in most cases it means you will have to take the time to bring the arrow into a bow shop and pay to have your arrow re-fletched.  This can become tiresome and can end up in the long run costing you a lot of money that you can actually save by fletching your arrows yourself.  In this tutorial I will be giving you an outline of how you can fletch your own arrows to save time and money.

Things you will need:

-Bare arrow shaft/arrow shaft in need of reparation
-Fletching Remover
-Fletching Glue
-Fletching Jig
-Fletchings
-99% rubbing alcohol
-Fine grit sand paper

Step 1: Take your Fletching remover or a dull pocket knife if you don’t have a fletching remover and remove the rest of the fletchings on the arrow.  Ensure that the fletching/vanes glue has been scraped off to the best of your ability as well.

Step 2: If you’re using carbon arrows take your fine grit sand paper and rough up just the end where the fletchings will go.  This will allow the glue to stick better and will also allow for any remaining old glue to be taken off the arrow.  If you’re using aluminum arrows skip this step.

Step 3: Wet a rag or cloth with some rubbing alcohol and rub all of the residue off the back end of the arrow where your fletchings are going to go.

Step4: Place your arrow into the fletching jig and grab the fletching clamp and place a fletching /vane into the clamp.

Step5: Take your cloth and wet it with rubbing alcohol again and wipe the fletching portion which will be glued to the arrow down to ensure all of the factory residue is off the fletching/vane.

Step 6: Apply your fletching glue to the fletching in the clamp and use the tip of the glue applicator to make sure the glue is evenly spread on the entire fletching.

Step 7:  Place the Clamp onto the fletching jig and slide it towards the arrow until the fletching has made contact with the arrow shaft.  Press the clamp down to make sure a tight full seal of the fletching and the arrow shaft is achieved.

Step 8: Wait 5-7 minutes

Step 9: Release the clamp and turn the rotation knob on the fletching jig to turn the arrow shaft to the next location of where the fletching will go and then repeat the above steps 5 – 8 until all fletchings have been glued on.

Step 10: Take the arrow out of the jig and inspect each fletching to make sure there are no unglued areas.  As a final step take your glue and just place a small bead right at the tip of the fletching closest to the arrow point.  This will give your fletchings or vanes that extra durability if you pass-through the target or miss the target and hit the ground.

Norway Zip Strip

Bohning Fletch-Tite Glue

Bitzenburger Jig

If you are looking at trying you hand at bowhunting deer one of the most important things you will need to know is how to field dress a deer should you get the opportunity to shoot and kill one.  Properly field dressing a deer is very important as it helps to:

- Cool off the body temperature of the meat to slow the spoil rate
- Prevents surface bacteria from forming on the deer
- Maintains the overall quality of deer meat.

It is also important that you have everything you will need on your person, or close by so that you can ensure  your ability to field dress a deer as quickly after the kill as possible.  The following is a list if items you will need:

Deer Tag
Flashlight
Camera (take a picture of your trophy)
Sharp / Clean hunting knife
Small rag or towel to wipe the blood off your hands (can also use surgical gloves)
Rope to tie legs and/or drag the deer
Axe or Saw for quartering deer
Several small pieces of string or twine
Large zip-lock or self-sealing bag for the heart and liver.
Tarp – Optional if you want a clean surface to field dress your deer on

Below is a few videos on how to field dress a deer quickly and cleanly.  These videos offer great information and will help teach you how to properly field dress a deer. *Note – Graphic Content

It’s important to note that field dressing a deer takes time and practice in order to master.  You may need to watch these videos a few times in order to remember all of the steps of field dressing a deer but once you have to knowledge and skill to properly field dress a deer you will be able to greatly minimize the chances of spoil.

Whether you are an avid archer or shoot occasionally, almost everyone of us has had the unpleasant experience of being hit with the bowstring. Being “zinged” is probably one of the most painful experiences of shooting a bow and once you do it, you really start trying to figure out how to avoid having it happen again. There is really only one main reason why you get zinged and that is improper grip on the bow.

Most archers grip the bow with the middle of their palm running down the center of the bow handle. On top of this poor form we also tend to squeeze really tightly which inevitably brings the string closer to our wrist. Not to worry though after being zinged myself I was taught this new way of holding the bow that would pretty much completely eliminate any chances of being hit with the string again.

The easiest way to explain this grip is to have you look at the front of your hand. Notice the meaty portion of your hand just below your thumb. This portion of your hand is going to be what sits on the middle of the bow handle instead of the middle of your palm.

Next your going to put your four remaining fingers together and place the tips of these fingers on the front portion of the handle/riser and your going to curl your thumb over to the right of the handle(if right handed).

*note the space between the arm and the string.

This grip is guaranteed not only to help keep your arm from getting hit but because this grip really inhibits squeezing really hard, it also helps to reduce bow torque. Just remember that you should only have your hand tight enough around the handle in order to keep it in your hand after the shot. Holding your bow too tightly will really hurt your accuracy and consistency, if you are afraid of your bow dropping you can pick up a very cheap solution. Its called a bow-sling and it attaches to the handle and you put you’re hand inside the sling to prevent your bow from coming out of your hand. Braided Bow Sling

When hunting or shooting in the winter your clothes tend to be a lot thicker and this can cause the string to start hitting your jacket. The solution to this is to get a hold of an arm guard this will help to keep you’re coat sleeve out of the way of your bowstring. Vista Tuff-Lite Armguard

Paper tuning your bow is not a necessity in order to shoot your bow, however it does ensure that your bow is shooting straight and as accurate as possible. In most cases it even helps to reduce the amount of difference between field points and broadheads.

Paper tuning is really nothing more than putting a piece of paper between two posts and then shooting your arrow through the paper into a target located just behind the paper. In doing this you are able to see if the arrow is kicking left,right,up or down.

1. Lets get started what you need to do is to get 2 posts of some type and secure them so that they cannot move. Your going to want the posts to be about the width of the paper your using minus an inch on both sides because your going to need to fasten the paper to the posts.

*NOTE make sure that the paper is not creased or wrinkled as this will affect the outcome results.* Also make sure the paper is at the height of the arrow being shot because you do not want to be shooting downwards or upwards into the paper as the results will be inaccurate as well..

2. Alright so now with the posts firmly in place in front of your target and the paper fastened to the posts you are now ready to start shooting. So what we are going to do is go back about 3-5 yards from the posts. Now what your going to do is shoot an arrow into the sheet of paper making sure that your form good so as not to torque the bow.

3. After the arrow has passed through the page there may or may not be significant tearing. What your going to do next is to go to the paper take on of your hands and put it behind the paper and put the tears back together so that you can see how its tearing. Once you see how it is tearing then you can make the adjustments to your arrow rest. *NOTE the best way that I have found is to work on one problem at a time so work on either horizontal tears or vertical tears*.

4. Alright so now what we have to do is read the tear and fix the problem. Now the most important part to remember is that you must move your rest in the direction of the tear, so for example if after getting the paper back together you notice that the tear is going to the left then you need to move the rest to the left, if the tear is going in an upward direction then you need to move the rest up etc.

Now this could take some time as once you move the rest you must continue shooting into the paper until you shoot the arrow through with no tearing and the end result looks as though your looking at the back of an arrow. You need to do this for both for horizontal and vertical tears.

5. Once you have the arrows going through properly with the flecthings on we need to get a bare arrow(one without fletchings)and go through the same steps. In doing this we can eliminate even the smallest of tears that may have been covered up by the minor tearing from the fletchings on the previous arrow we used.

The goal of this new arrow is to get it making what looks like bullet holes, the holes should be round with no tearing at all. If this is done than you have successfully paper tuned your bow, this will ensure maximum accuracy and penetration of the arrow.

Sighting in your bow is a very simple but but can be time consuming process. Simply put sighting in your bow is basically setting up the pins on your sight so that when you aim and release the arrow; it hits where you were aiming. In order to sight in your bow you will need a set of allen wrenches, for the sight/rest/pin screws.

STEP ONE

First of all you need to set up a target and some markers, that will mark off distances of 10, 20,30,40 yds etc As for a target I use and would recommend Field Logic’s ” The Block Elite 4×4 Field Tip/Broadhead Target ” for 3 reasons
*These targets can take a beating and last a long time
* You can shoot both field point and broadheads at it
* It is one of the only targets I have tried that you don’t have to fight with to get your arrows out of it.

. Set yourself up so that your body is perpendicular to the target about 5-10 yds away. Load an arrow into your bow and aim at the target with the top most pin on your sight; where you want the arrow to go. Do this a few times just to make sure that you didn’t flinch or the wind didn’t grab the arrow.

Walk up to the target and make note of where your arrows are in relation to where you were aiming. If the arrows are off from your aimed spot then go back and move the sight just a little in the direction that the arrow was off. For example if your arrow was right, then you will move the sight to the right. *Note – We are just concentrating on left to right at this point.* Continue this process until your arrow hits where you are aiming(in relation to left and right).

STEP TWO

At this point your arrow should pretty much be dead on when it comes to left and right alignment. With the left to right complete we can now work on your up and down alignment. Basically to start out with, this process is going to be pretty much the same as the first steps. Make sure that you are standing perpendicular to the target about 10 yds away. Instead of using your top most pin however; you will now use your pin that you are going to be using for 30yds(usually your 2nd pin from the top).

Aim at the center of the target and then release the arrow. The expected results should be that the arrow has hit 3-4 inches higher from where you aimed, this is normal. If you are off left to right repeat the previous steps. If the arrow is lower than where you were aiming simply loosen the sight and bring the sight down just a little bit. Continue shooting until the arrow is about 3-4 inches higher than where you were aiming.

When you have reached the desired results move back to the 20yrd marker. Again using your 30yrd pin aim at the center of the target, again you should be hitting just above where you were aiming. the difference now should be only about 1-2 inches higher. If the arrow hits dead on or is a little low then make the adjustment downwards to your sight, and try again until the results are reached.

Move back to the 30 yrd marker, and aim again at the center of the target. Your arrow should be hitting pretty much right where you aimed it. You may have to make small adjustments to fine tune your sight, however you probably won’t need to do very much.

STEP THREE

In the previous steps we were concentrating on moving the entire sight in order to sight in your 30yd pin, now with your 30 yd pin set and all ready to go we can now focus on your individual pins. This process will take a bit of time but basically you are just going to move forward or back depending on the pin that you are working with and moving the pin up or down to get the desire shot placement for that yardage.

Do this for the rest of your distances leaving your 30yd pin alone. In doing it this way you avoid setting up the 10, 20 yd pins and then realizing that the entire sight has to go up or down and then once doing so having to re sight in the 10, 20 yrd pins. This saves a lot of time and frustration. Once all your pins are set you are now sighted in and ready to go.

Archery targets come in all shapes and sizes as well as different materials. These however can become pretty costly. The good thing is, is that you can build a target out of inexpensive materials and it takes hardly anytime at all.

1. What you need to do is get a hold of a burlap sack(coffee bean sacks work very well), it should be about 2.5 ft in width and 3.5 ft in height.

2. Next you’re going to need about 15-20lbs of rags/old clothing. If your wondering where to get these you can go to a thrift store, 2nd hand store, salvation army store etc and if they receive clothing that is in too rough of shape to sell then they throw it out.

3.Take the rags and stuff that bag until it is just below the top of the bag, making sure that you get as many rags as possible in there.

4. Take the top of the bag and seal it. You can do this by threading small rope through the holes of the bag. And there you have it your very own target.

It’s important to note that this target is only good for field points and will not be able to handle any kind of broadheads, including expandable.

Determining your draw-length is a crucial part of archery. If you have a bow that is too long or short in draw-length your shot will be negatively affected. It is a very easy process to find your draw-length and I will show you in these next few steps.

1. What you need is an arrow shaft with no point on it.

2. Get a tape measure and mark lines on the arrow for every inch after 15″.

3. When you have finished marking the arrow, your going to take the arrow and place the back end of it in the part of your neck just above your collar bone.

4.Then extend both of your arms until they are at a comfortable length. Make sure you do not try to stretch your arms out for added length you just want it so that your arms are stretched to a comfortable length.

5.Record the results of your measurement.

This measurement represents your “true draw-length” However when purchasing a bow you need a bow that will be 1″ less than your “true draw”.  Knowing this measurement will ensure that you get a bow that not only fits you but has the potential to maximize your shooting potential.

Just like hunting with a gun, in archery you will need to determine which eye is your dominant eye for shooting a bow.  This is a very simple yet effective tutorial that will teach you how to easily determine your dominant eye.

1. Make a triangle with both of your hands by overlapping your thumbs and the top half of your fingers.

2 Put your arms out in front of you and pick a target in the distance to look at

3 Look through the triangle made by your hands and look at the target.

4 Keep your hand-triangle small enough so that only one eye will be able to look through it when your hand has reached your face.

5 Keep both eyes open throughout this procedure.

6 Move your hands back to your face, still looking at the target through your hands. Make note as to which eye you find your hands gravitating towards.

7 Just to make sure you can repeat the process, holding the triangle at arms distance again and closing your non-dominant eye. The target should remain centered in the opening.

The result will be your dominant eye which means that this is the eye that you will be aiming with when shooting your bow.

Getting lost can be a very nerve racking experience especially when you are all alone out in the wilderness and night starts rolling in. People who get lost usually do so because they are ill prepared or because they don’t know how to use the tools available to them.

Being a hunter if you do get lost you should have a day pack with you that will have tools and rations in it that will give you an advantage in surviving, if not then it may be a little harder for you. You may be thinking, how do I survive, and what should I do to find my way out of the bush.

*NOTE: Before going into any forest or wooded area make sure to take a reading of the location of a road, camp or any other landmark so that if you do get lost you’ll be able to easier find your way back to a main road or your camp using your compass.

STAY CALM

One of the biggest reasons that people get into trouble when they get lost is because they panic. The most important thing to remember when you find that you have no idea where you are, is to STAY CALM and dont panic. People who start panicking and freaking out start to run in every direction not only becoming more lost but also causing the body to lose energy and water that you will need to conserve.

Panicking also causes you to lose your ability to think clearly and rationally which is ultimately whats going to keep you alive. If you do in fact get turned around instead of losing it just stop and analyze your surroundings.

As you analyze your surroundings you should be looking for anything that can be used as a shelter. Shelter can be found in openings in cliffs or under a group of pine trees or even under a fallen tree. You basically want anything that will keep the wind and rain/snow off of you as the nights do get fairly cool.

Once you find shelter you may need to fix it up a little, what works very well is lushgreen pine branches. Break or cut off as many as you need and lean them up against or on top of your shelter to keep you dry.

START A FIRE

Now that you have found shelter you need to start a fire in order to keep warm throughout the night. Depending on the weather things may be dry or wet. Now if you have fire-starters in your pack, that’s a bonus, if not then you need to gather easily combustible materials such as pine needles, dead grass, leaves, etc. to start a fire, and then some twigs and small branches in order to keep it going.

In the event that it has just rained or snowed and these items are frozen or wet then you\’re going to have to look a little harder for these materials that are dry. Look for these items under trees that have a lot of foliage or under fallen trees. Once you get a small fire going you can gather some bigger stuff for fuel, starting out with some softwood and working up to hardwood that will burn for a longer period of time.

REST UP

Whether you think you need it or not your going to need to get some sleep. The reason for this is that when you become tired your mind isn’t as able to think logically and you begin to lose your the accuracy of your motor skills. Rest revitalizes your body and mind and that way your mental focus and alertness will be renewed and you can function more effectively and efficiently.

Never go to sleep in wet clothing your body will lose more heat and use a greater amount of energy trying to keep you warm. Instead take off your wet clothes and lay them by the fire to dry up. Use your coat or space blanket to cover you up.

GATHER YOUR BEARINGS

Chances are that you are not very far from your camp or intended destination, which you often may miss in the dark. So after a night of tried rest you will now have a better overall view of your complete surroundings. It is now going to be your mission to find out where you are and where you have to go. Now if you were smart enough get a compass bearing of your camp or a road or another can’t miss object then finding your way should be fairly simple just follow your compass.

If you forgot then your best chances are to signal fire that can be made by throwing living grass leaves or other living vegetation into the fire. Next find the highest ground possible, even if it means climbing a tree. More than likely doing this will help you to see a land mark or smoke from your camp site or something that you will remember and you can follow. Before getting down from your high spot take a compass bearing that you can follow once you get down.

*NOTE If you are hurt and unable to move around or if you do not see anything upon getting to higher ground then your best bet is to stay where you are and keep the signal fire going. Also grab out your signaling mirror or anything metal that will create a glare in the sun because you may be there for a while.

Finding water is going to be crucial to your survival if you are lost for more than a day. Finding water out in the wilderness can be tough but is achievable if you know what to look for. Keep your eye out for lush greenery or a gathering of birds as this usually means a water source is nearby.

Common areas for water are: ponds,lakes,rivers,streams,rain/snow, and dew/condensation. Try to get water that hasn’t been sitting for awhile like in swamps or puddles, look instead for faster moving water such as streams or rivers. Another option is if you have a plastic bag tie it around a tree branch with a lot of leaves on it.

When the sun hits the bag the heat will draw the water from the leaves and condense in the bag leaving you with drinkable water. You can do the same with morning dew, take a piece of clean cloth and soak the cloth in the dew then squeeze the water from the rag into your mouth.

It is very important to note that all water sources are not drinkable as they are some need to be purified, you should never drink any water without at least first boiling it first unless there is no other choice as there bacteria and minerals that are harmful to the body.

There are 3 things you can do to clean the water up and reduce the risk of getting sick from drinking it.

Filtering:

This will get rid of any sediment or objects that may be floating in the water. This can as simple as putting the water through a piece of clothing, or anything else that is porous.

Boiling:

This is a very important step as boiling the water will actually kill the germs and bacteria in the water. It is important to note that boiling the water can not guarantee the EVERYTHING has been killed in the water but usually its enough to make it safe.

Chemicals:

If you have any water purification tablets or any iodine that you can put into the water, this will increase the chances that everything will be killed in the water that may make you ill, if not and the times are desperate than boiling the water is for the most part good enough.

FINDING FOOD

Finding food is essential to a humans survival. The most important things are protein and fats which is commonly found in meat, fish and bugs such as termites, grasshoppers, locusts, crickets, grubs, etc. note* Unless familiar with a certain bug stay away from hairy insects as some are poisonous.

Now you may be cringing at the fact that I would even entertain the thought of eating bugs, but believe me if your starving it’ll be like a treat from heaven. Plants are also a great source of nutrients, however; choosing the right ones are important as there are probably an equal amount of plants that are poisonous.

Most commonly but certainly only a small hint is to stay away from plants that have a milky sap or white berries. The best way for you to tell which are poisonous and which aren’t are by getting a book and learning about the different plants.

CONCLUSION

So there is no getting around it, Getting lost sucks but it does happen and the best way to survive it is to be prepared for it. Make yourself up a survival pack before going on any type of adventure into the wilderness.

Also know how to read a compass and take a reading of your camp or something big and obvious before you go into any forest type situation. When prepared and you have the know how to survive if you get lost you will better your chances of making it back alive.